Twitter has unblocked a popular account parodying the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, after widespread condemnation and accusations of censorship.
@DarthPutinKGB celebrated his return to Twitter following a two-day suspension with typical tweets:
— Darth Putin (@DarthPutinKGB) June 1, 2016My security services have thwarted yet another CIA attempt at regime change in Russia. 😤
— Darth Putin (@DarthPutinKGB) June 1, 2016I have noted the names of every single one of you who did not tweet to @Support against this fascist coup!!!
The spoof account, which has about 65,000 followers, was suspended on Tuesday alongside a number of others that satirise Russian officials and institutions. Suspended accounts include @Russia__Not, @RusEmbassyNot, @SovietSergey, which sends up Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, and @AmbYakovenkoNot, which claims to speak for the ambassador to the UK, AlexanderYakovenko. Twitter gave no public explanation for their blocking or unblocking.
The Estonian president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, was among those protesting against Twitter’s decision.
— toomas hendrik ilves (@IlvesToomas) May 31, 2016Dear @twitter, why in the world have you suspended one of the funniest parody acc'ts around @DarthPutinKGB? It's a joke account, not a troll
During the suspension the man behind the @DarthPutinKGB account, who asked to remain anonymous, said Twitter had not contacted him before blocking the feed. “I thought, so the Russian foreign ministry did get me shot down after all,” he said. “I think that they cannot take being laughed at,” he added.
The move seems to have increased @DarthPutinKGB’s popularity, with about 5,000 new followers signing on since the suspension.
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